17 “Now, son of man, turn[a] toward the women of your people who prophesy(A) out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them(B) 18 and say: This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every height in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of My people but preserve your own?(C) 19 You profane Me in front of My people for handfuls of barley(D) and scraps of bread; you kill those who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to My people, who listen to lies.

20 “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic bands that you ensnare people with like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the people you have ensnared like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands,(E) so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 22 Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies, even though I have not caused him grief,(F) and because you have encouraged the wicked(G) person not to turn from his evil way to save his life, 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination.(H) I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:17 Lit set your face

17 “And you, son of man,[a] place your face toward the daughters of your people who prophesy from their imagination,[b] and prophesy against them! 18 And you must say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Woe to those who sew[c] magic charm bands on all the wrists[d] of the hands of my people and those who make the veils[e] that are on the head of people of every height, to ensnare people’s lives![f] Will you ensnare the lives[g] of my people and keep yourselves alive?[h] 19 And you defiled me among my people for a handful of barley and for morsels of bread to kill persons who should not die and to keep alive persons who should not live by means of your lies to my people who are listening to your lies.”’[i] 20 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Look! I am against your magic charm bands with which you are ensnaring persons[j] as birds; I will tear them from your arms, and I will release the persons that you are ensnaring, treating persons as birds. 21 And I will tear off your veils, and I will deliver my people from your hand, and they will not any longer be in your hand as prey, and you will know that I am Yahweh. 22 Because you disheartened the heart of the righteous by deception, and I have not[k] caused him pain, and strengthened the hands of the wicked so that he did not turn[l] from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore falseness[m] you will not see,[n] and divination you will not practice[o] any longer, and I will rescue my people from your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh!’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:17 Or “mortal,” or “son of humankind”
  2. Ezekiel 13:17 Literally “heart”
  3. Ezekiel 13:18 Literally “the sewers of”
  4. Ezekiel 13:18 Or “joints”
  5. Ezekiel 13:18 Literally “the makers of the veils”
  6. Ezekiel 13:18 Or “souls”
  7. Ezekiel 13:18 Or “souls”
  8. Ezekiel 13:18 Literally “and lives/souls for you, you keep alive”
  9. Ezekiel 13:19 Hebrew “lie”
  10. Ezekiel 13:20 Literally “which you are ensnaring with them the souls/individuals”
  11. Ezekiel 13:22 Or “did not”
  12. Ezekiel 13:22 Or “not to turn”
  13. Ezekiel 13:23 Or “vanity” or “vain/false visions”
  14. Ezekiel 13:23 Or “observe”
  15. Ezekiel 13:23 Or “you will indeed not practice divination”